The day of my defense I basically spent the day with Neal holding my hand and telling me it was going to be okay. All the way up until the moment I saw my first committee member I was trembling with stress. But then a series of unfortunate events actually calmed me down a great deal. The room we were supposed to meet in was taken and we wandered around the English building trying to find an office with enough chairs. When we finally settled down, and my committee began chatting about nothing in particular. Finally they let me leave so they could discuss how to drill me. Well, that's what I thought. For several minutes I desperately tried to brush my hair free of knots with my fingers. Then I prayed they didn't open the door because my fingers were stuck. I've read that pregnancy leads to thicker hair. I just know that I lost enough on Monday for a week's worth of regular hair loss.
I'd imagined the defense portion to be similar to Studio C's comedy sketch "Thesis Defense" I've included to link below so you can understand completely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrlro3YJ15o
But in reality my thesis defense was more like a chat over coffee (sans coffee). We referenced my actual thesis probably once. Other than that one reference, we just chatted about my future and my thoughts on graduate school. I don't know that I've ever had such a pleasant conversation with my professors. When it was all said and done, and I'd had my congratulatory hugs and handshakes from my committee, Neal and I celebrated with pizza. Well, we ordered a pizza. I was still too excited to eat more than a piece. But it was marvelous. The whole world seemed to be saying congrats!
So now I'm done with everything necessary to walk at graduation. There are some edits to complete by the end of summer, but so far they are simple word adjustments. I'm taking it slow and steady to be sure I'm really pleased with the printed version. In the meantime, I'm finishing up work for my job, actually sleeping, enjoying springtime, reading books on gardening, watching too much Netflix, and singing my heart out.
Because I've been spending so my time outside, I've included some photos of the beautiful world.
Neal and I just after I'd passed my defense! I'm so happy for me! :)
The most beautiful flowers. Neal got them for me yesterday. I think these may be my favorite flowers I've ever received. The picture does NOT do them justice.
The canal I walk by every day to the bus stop. I live in the beautiful city.
Even the trees which seem blackened are covered with life.
This spot of the canal makes me want to go wading. I don't, of course, because a little bit above and below this pristine spot there are bits of trash stuck in the weeds. It makes me sad.
My office mate decorated my office! Isn't she so nice?
I think I'm the only grad student with Mardi Gras beads on her door! The sign says congratulations Amber :)
So many beads everywhere! I'm going to wear some of them at graduation.
Campus at this time of year is simply delectable.
Close ups of my own flowers. Neal tried to get every color of the rainbow.
The pink ones are just waiting to bloom in all their goodness!
The Gerber daisy pinks and the blues contrast so nicely.
And yellow roses. Because Neal and I are best friends (and more...)
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